Swimming belt



Sept. 14 1926.

I J. M. WELCH SWIMMING BELT Original Filed Oct. 2. 1923.

Patented Sept. 14, 1926. I I

YJ'JOHNUIIVL wnnon, on iiousroixr, TEXAS.

swnvnnrne BELT.

Application filed-October 2, 1923, Serial No. 666,082. Renewed April 26,. 1926.

My invention relates to. swimming belts, or belts of "a similar nature, tobe used for pleasure or as life preservers.

It is an-obje ct of my inventionto construct 5 a belt for swimming or lifesaving purposes which will fit securely about the wearers waist, and be of flattened shapeylying close to the body-of the wearer so that. it will not hands and feet. a

' It is another obj ect to provide a swimming belt which will be light andwhich may be rolled up and retained in a small package,

easily stored or carried, readyaforservice.

It is another object to provide convenient means for adjusting the length of the .belt to conform tothe waist measurement of the wearer. 1

Another object is to. provide a meansof constructing" my improved swimming belt which will make the construction thereof simple and easy of performance.

' Referring to thedrawings herewith,.where in like numerals of reference are applied to like parts in all the views, .Fig. 1 is a front [perspective view of a belt embodying my inventionyFig. 2 is albroken front elevation showing a modified form of adjusting 1 means; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the belt; Fig. 4; is a broken perspective View illustrating one means for forming the par- -titions in the belt, and Fig.5 is a transverse section of a belt showing a second means for interfere withthe motions of the wearers forming the same.

Mybelt consists of afiattened tube of fabric, impregnated with rubber or similarma- 3 teriafimpervious to air or water. There are 3 two flattened lengths of the said rubberized fabric; having the edges overlapping at'the sides and cemented together to form? one conprevented and the belt will last for long petinuous tube. It is important to form the.

inner section 1 of the belt of fabric out on the f bias. fllhis fabric, when stuck to. a rubber lining or when impregnated with rubber, is

.- stret ched longitudinally thereof so that it will not wrinkle when rolledior secured to the waist of the wearer. 1 The outer sectionQ -is o'f a straight strip of rubberized'fabric and is best secured overtherinturned edges of the inner section 1, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The overlappingedges arecemented firmly together. When thus formed, theinner section 1 will conform to the shape of thewearers waist and willbe entirely free of wrinkles or folds when thus in use, and may also be rolled up into a; neat-package scribed.

riods. The outer section 2 will be approximately flat and will be held thus by partitions in the belt which willbe presentlyde- In order to prevent the tube from being rounded out as would a vehicle tire when ,it

a is inflated, I havegformed two partitionsp3,

cemented at their edgesat tt othe, upper and lower sides 1 and 2 ofthebelt. i'lhese longitudinal partitions thus formed serve to hold the opposite sidesvof the belt from being bowed out when inflated, and thus tendto hold the belt in aiflattened :Shape, as shown in 3. One end of the belt thusformed is closed and cemente'dtogether so that there may be no outlet for the air. The opposite end is closed at a point beyondthe ends of the longitudinal partitionsB, except for a small opening 5atone side theieoflinwhich is tightly cemented a, tube Gjbymeansof which air may be introduced into the belt.

The air thus introduced at the lenchofthe belt mayfind an entrance to anyofthe three chambers of the belt and will serve to inflate each portionof therbelt uniformly The end of the inflating tube 6 maybe provided with a valve 7, allowing air to be, fQICed into the belt, but, preventing its outlet therefrom.

This tube may preferablybe formed ofsuf- .ficient glengthto make it possible jfor the wearer to easily inflate it whenit is buckled on, andunder ordinary conditions sufficient air may be blown intothebe'lt by the we arer without the use of an airpump.

The attachinguends of thebelt thus formed may be secured together by any adjustable means, and inFig. 1, I haveshown onesuch means. I have shown on oneend of the belt a. series of transverseflaps or pleats 8,1provided. with I a plurality ,,of, buttonholes 9 therein, these buttonholes being arranged in proper spaced relation from each otheif to align with a series of buckles 10, u pon the adjacent opposite end of the belt. S rnall straps 11 having buttons 12 on one end thereoffare provided, the other end of the strap being preferably reinforced by a strip of-metal 13 clamped thereon topreventwear on the strap. As will benoted lone end of reach of these straps-may be; buttoned in any one of the pluralityof flapsor strips 8 and the oppositeend thereof may be secured by means of the buckle to the otherend of with eyelets 14 therein, there being asimilar flap on the opposite end of the belt, and it is contemplated that a lace or string 15 may be secured within the eyelets, as shown, to connect the end 16 of the belt with the opposite end 17 through the eyelets in any of the three flaps 8. Each opposite pair of eyelets may be provided with a separate lace if so desired.

In forming this type of belt, it is diflicult to secure the longitudinal strips of reinforcing material 3 properly in position. I have contrived a means by which the said strips may be properly placed and cemented. In Fig. 4 I have shown three narrow strips of material which may be of wood or. metal or some light composition. The central piece 18 has, on each longitudinal side thereof, a. tongue or tenon 19, considerably narrower than the thickness of the body portion of the strip. These lateral tongues are adapted to fit very loosely within grooves 20 in the two sides pieces 21. The outer sides of the pieces 21 are rounded at 22, as shown in the drawing. The tongue 19 fits loosely in the groove 20 to .allow the fitting around the said tongue throughout the length of the strip, a piece of fabric 3. This fabric, which is cut on the bias, overlaps the central portion a suitable distance and has on the expose-d portion thereof, rubber cement or other similar adhering material, adapted to secure the strip to the sides of the belt, as is shown in Fig. 3. hen the fabric has been secured along the strips 18 and 21, as shown in Fig. 1, it is inserted within the belt, and when thus inserted, the three as sembled strips of material fit closely in the belt. This may be done while the tube is being formed, as previously described, or may even be done when the tube has been partly formed. The upper and lower sides may then be pressed firmly down against the exposed sides of the strip 3, and thus cemented in place; and when the cement has properly set, the strips 18 and 21 may be withdrawn. This will be readily accomplished by moving the side strips 21 slightly away from the central portion, so as to allow the withdrawal of first one and then the others in succession. \Vhen the parts have been thus secured together longitudinally, the ends may be sealed, as previously described.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a second means of cementing the partitions in position. In this embodiment I provide three longitudinal strips of material, which may be of wood, or some other like composition. there being a central piece 18 and two lateral. strips 21. The two strips 21 are rounded at their outer edges at 22, but the inner ends are flattened to fit closely against the adjacent sides of the central strip 18. A piece of bias fabric material 3 is wound about the central strip with the two edges thereof meeting on the upper face at 23. The two side blocks are then placed in position, and the exposed upper and lower sides of the reinforcing fabric are covered with cement and the assembled core thus formed is inserted within the tire, and the cement allowed to set in contact with the upper and lower sides of the belt,.after which the strips 18 and 21' are withdrawn. As will be obvious, these partitions may best be inserted while the tube is being formed. The partition being of bias material may be folded without wrinkling.

The advantages of this type of construction lie in the fact that the belt may, when deflated, be folded or rolled into a small package, easily stored or carried. The belt may, when inflated, be easily secured about the waist, will fitthe waist line of the wearer and will not in any wayinterfere with his motions in swimming. A small amount of air in the belt will be suflicient to sustain the swimmer under all conditions. The dc vice is easily secured in place, and is light and convenient.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect byLetters Patent is:

1. A pneumatic life belt comprising, an inner wall of fabric cut on the bias and stretched longitudinally and formed impervious to water or air, its edges being folded forwardly, an outer wall of similar material not cut on the bias and secured to the folded edges of said inner wall, means to prevent distension of the said walls, said walls being sealed to form a tube and means to allow inflation of said tube.

2. A pneumatic life belt comprising an inner wall of rubberized fabric, cut on the bias, an outer wall of rubberized fabric, said walls being sealed at their adjacent edges to form a tube, and means to inflate said tube.

3. A pneumatic life belt comprising an inner wall of bias fabric, and an outer wall ofa flattened strip of fabric, said walls be ing impervious to water or air, means to limit the distance between said walls and means to allow inflation of said belt.

4. In a pneumatic life belt, an inner wall of bias fabric, an outer wall of fabric, means to limit the distance between said walls and means to allow inflation of said belt.

5. In a life belt, a pneumatic tube, means to limit the thickness of said tube When inflated, and means to secure the ends of said tube together comprising straps having adjustable attachment to one end of said belt, and cooperating buckles on the opposite end of said belt for the purpose described.

6. In a life belt, a pneumatic tube, means to allow inflation thereof and means to secure said belt in position, comprising a plurality of flaps on one end of said belt, attaching means secured adjustably to any one of said flaps, and cooperating attaching means on the opposite end of said belt.

7. A pneumatic life belt comprising a front section and a back section, the 1naterial of the back section having a greater degree of yieldability than the material of the front section.

8. A pneumatic life belt comprising a front section and a back section, the material'of one of said sections being cut on the bias to permit agreater degree of yieldability therein than in the other of said sections.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature this the 31 day of August, A. D. 1923.

JOHN M. WELCH. 

